21H.

522 Study Questions/Response Question for The 47 Ronin

Here are some questions to answer while reading the 47 Ronin texts. Please
respond to question 4 for this weeks response paper. The question will also be
posted in the websites study materials section and the schedule. Please post your
response to the Study Materials section.

1. What competing notions of honor were at work at the time of the 47 Ronin incident?
2. In what way does the 47 Ronin Incident demonstrate how the way of the warrior
was changing?
3. In Okada Denpachiros account of the incident, what do you notice about the concern
over status? How does status affect various decisions and treatments of the different
characters?
4. Pretend that you are a participant in the debate over the 47 Ronin. After carefully
reading Okada Denpachiros account and the arguments afterwards, which position
would you agree with and why? (Or you can combine them/come up with your own). In
your response, try to think of counter-arguments to your argument and refute them.
Please use citations from the texts assigned.